Device for plugging a passageway



Feb. 4, 19 69 w.

I DEVICE FOR PLUGGING A PASSAGEWAY O. HOLL INGSWORTH Filed Dec. 28, 1965 v uwewron 11% wnvrne'o 0. uau mcssmm' Ailomoy United States Patent 3,425,733 DEVICE FOR- PLUGGING A PASSAGEWAY Winfred O. Hollingsworth, Gary, Ind., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 516,997 US. Cl. 294-19 Int. Cl. B25j 13/02; C10b 27/00, 45/00 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improved method and device for plugging a passageway.

Although the invention is not thus limited, my method and device are particularly useful for plugging coke oven standpipes, as is required when an oven is taken out of service for an extended period. A conventional by-product coke oven has one or two standpipes for carrying away volatile matter distilled from the coal. The standpipes lead to goosenecks and thence to gas collecting mains. During an extended shutdown the standpipes should be plugged to prevent loss of heat and consequent damage to the refractory lining of the oven. Heretofore the practice has been to burn away the metal heat shield surrounding the standpipe and the bolts which attach the gooseneck to the top of the standpipe, and insert a metal plate between the gooseneck and standpipe. This practice has been unduly time-consuming and awkward. These parts must be re placed later when the oven is put back into operation. Nevertheless it is apparent my invention has broader application where it is necessary to insert a plug in a passageway.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved method and device for plugging a passageway whereby I can insert a plate axially of the passageway and release it at the proper location.

A further object is to provide a method and device which oifer, the foregoing advantage and also enable the plate to be removed quickly and easily.

A further object is to provide a plugging device which can clamp a metal plate at one end, insert the plate axially in a passageway, and release the plate at a desired location.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of my plugging device with parts broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the device showing parts in a different position;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan View of the device; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of a coke oven standpipe illustrating how I may use the device to insert a plate for plugging the standpipe.

My plugging device includes an elongated tubular body 10, a ram 12 fixed to the lower end of the body, and an enlarged cylindrical housing 13 fixed to the upper end thereof. A rod 14 is mounted within the body and may rotate and move axially of the body. The lower end of rod 14 projects below the end of the body and carries a tab 15. The upper end of the rod projects above the housing 13 and has fixed thereto a locking plate 16, a handle 17 above the locking plate, and a plunger 18 therebelow. A compression spring 19 within the housing 13 encircles rod 14 and bears against the bottom of the hous- 3,425,733 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 ice ing and against the plunger and thus urges the rod upwardly. The outside of the locking plate 16 carries a pair of depending diametrically opposed L-shaped hooks 20. The outside of the housing 13 carries a pair of radially projecting apertured ears 21 cooperable with said hooks, as hereinafter explained, and at least one stop 22 spaced from the ears. The body 10 carries a radially extending handle 23 and preferably a heat shield 24.

FIGURE 4 shows a portion of a conventional coke oven structure to illustrate the way I use the device for plugging a coke oven standpipe. FIGURE 4 shows an oven 28, standpipe 29, gooseneck 30, and gas main 31. A series of bolts 32 attach the gooseneck to the top of the standpipe. A heat shield 33 surrounds the standpipe. The gooseneck has a door 34 at its first bend. According to the previous practice, to plug the standpipe it was necessary first to burn away the heat shield 33 and bolts 32 with a torch. Thereafter a plate could be inserted between the standpipe and gooseneck. These parts of course had to be replaced later.

According to my invention, I clamp a metal plate 37 to the lower end of the plugging device between the ram 12 and tab 15. First I turn rod 14 clockwise and press it downwardly against the action of spring 19 to engage hooks 20 with ears 21, as FIGURE 1 shows. Tab 15 is now latched in a position in which it is spaced below ram 12. I insert the tab through a slot 38 in the center of plate 37 (FIGURE 3). Next I turn rod 14 counterclockwise to release the hooks from the ears and continue turning the rod until the hooks engage the stops 22 (FIGURE 2). Spring 19 forces the rod upwardly, whereby plate 37 is clamped between the tab and ram. The tab is now crosswise with respect to slot 38. I open the door 34 and insert my plugging device axially with plate 37 thus clamped. The plate is of somewhat larger area than the cross section of the gooseneck standpipe, but it has a plurality of slits 39 extending inwardly from its periphery. The portions of the plate between the slits bend upwardly, as FIGURE 4 shows, to engage the wall of the gooseneck or standpipe and thus anchor the plate. When the plate reaches the approximate position shown in the figure, I again turn the rod 14 to engage hooks 20 with ears 21. This action releases tab 15 from the plate, and I now withdraw the device. To complete the plugging, I apply three or four inches of wet asbestos 40 over the plate. Later, when the oven is put back into operation, it is necessary only to push the plate on through the standpipe into the oven, from which it is removed with the first batch of coke.

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affords a simple method and device for pluging a passageway, such as a coke oven standpipe. According to past practice, about two hours time and the services of four men were required to plug each standpipe and later restore the standpipe. With my invention one man can perform the whole operation in about fifteen minutes.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for inserting a plate in a passageway to plug the passageway, said device comprising an elongated tubular body, a rod mounted within said body for relative rotational and axial movement and projecting from the ends thereof, cooperating plate-clamping means at one end of said body and rod and movable between clamping'and released positions on relative movement of said rod, coopcrating latch means at the other end of said body and rod for holding said rod where said plate-clamping means is in its released position, spring means engaging said body and rod and urging said rod to move said plate-clamping means to its clamping position, and means extending from said other end of said rod for operating said latch means.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in Which said plateclamping means includes a ram fixed to the end of said body and a tab fixed to the end of said rod outwardly of said ram, said tab and ram being spaced apart in said released position to enable the tab to be inserted in an apertured plate.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a housing fixed to said other end of said body, said spring means being received in said housing and encircling said rod.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said latch means includes a pair of L-shaped hooks, means fixing said hooks to said rod outside said housing, and a pair of apertured ears fixed to the outside of said housing and being engaged by said hooks in said released position, said device further comprising at least one stop fixed to the outside of said housing spaced from said ears and being engaged by one of said hooks in said clamping position.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a heat shield and a handle fixed to said body intermediate its length.

References Cited NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

E. EDWARDS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 202269, 270, 254 

